Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-02
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The chart below shows the value of one country’s exports in various categories during 2015 and 2016. The table shows the percentage change in each category of exports in 2016 compared with 2015.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 6.0)
The bar chart gives the export earnings in different categories during 2015 and 2016. In addition, the table shows the percentage change in each category of exports in 2016 compared with 2015.
Textiles export percentage growth was the best in 2016. Whereas, minimal increase in the exports of agricultural products is seen in the table. All the categories experienced growth in the following year with the exception of gems and jewellery.
Furthermore, petroleum products generated more than 60 billion dollars in both years with a minimal growth as well. Engineered goods experienced a fair rise of 8.5% exports in 2016 compared with 2015. Textiles crossed the 30 billion dollars mark in 2016, showing the growth percentage of 15.24%.
The country faced a decline of 5.18% in the export earnings of gems and jewellery. Agricultural products export earnings growth is reported to be at the bottom of the list with 0.81%, followed by petroleum products with 3% growth.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall growth trends and the specific decline in gems and jewellery. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant trends, which is essential for a Band 7 or higher. While you have selected key data points, the comparison between the two years could be more analytical. For instance, you mention petroleum products generated over 60 billion dollars, but you do not explicitly contrast this with the other categories to highlight the scale of the difference. To improve, ensure you provide a clear opening summary that synthesises the main trends rather than just describing the chart's content.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organised, with a clear progression from an introduction to specific category details. Paragraphing is used, although the paragraph breaks could be more effectively utilised to separate the general trends from the specific data points. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Whereas', and 'In addition' are used to link ideas, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved to create a more cohesive narrative. Overall, the information is easy to follow, but the structure lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'export earnings', 'percentage growth', and 'decline'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'fair rise' and 'at the bottom of the list' are functional but lack the precision and academic tone expected in a formal report. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied collocations and precise reporting verbs. For example, instead of saying 'growth percentage of 15.24%', you could use 'a significant increase of 15.24%'. The vocabulary used is sufficient to convey meaning clearly without significant errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear, there are some minor grammatical issues, such as 'Textiles export percentage growth was the best' (which is slightly awkward) and 'showing the growth percentage of 15.24%' (which could be more naturally phrased). Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, aim for a greater variety of complex structures, such as using relative clauses or passive voice more effectively to describe the data, while ensuring that subject-verb agreement and article usage remain consistent.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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